The Mentality of a Great Interview: 10 Tips

Go into every interview with the end-goal of receiving a job offer. Make it your decision as to whether you want to work for the company rather than letting the company determine whether you are a fit.

While interviewing is not always easy, there are certain tricks which can be implemented to increase one’s odds of getting the offer and making the hiring manager confident that you are the right applicant. Here are 10 ways to do so:

1. Positive Energy – People are attracted to those who display positive energy, are upbeat and who are optimistic about their career outlook.

One of the biggest tricks to interviewing is sounding enthusiastic about the position and, by doing so reassuring the interviewer that you are interested in the job and are ready to contribute to their team effort.

2. Set firm goals – The best companies set firm goals and do everything possible to obtain them. As a job seeker, you should be no different.

Prior to interviewing, take the time to write down where you want to be in 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. Be specific and map out a step by step plan to ensure that you get there. If we don’t know where we are going, our overall achievements are going to end up a fraction of what they could be. Be focused and tenacious in your goals and let those ambitions be heard by the hiring company.

3. Remember it’s what you can do for the employer – The best way to sell is to talk in terms of what the other person wants.

Take the time to think about what benefits and skills you bring to the table. Read over the job description and envision the concerns and needs of that employer.

By speaking about how you can deliver the desired results, you are more likely to get an offer and, when you do you have more leverage negotiating the salary you want. In essence, give the employer what they want and you will get everything you need.

4. Be approachable and likable – When interviewing, the hiring manager is going to look for intangibles such as whether you are going to fit in with the corporate culture a.k.a. will you get along with the employees and enjoy working there.

The best way to make the interviewer confident that you’ll fit in is to be approachable and likable throughout the interviewing process. Don’t play hard to get, remain easy going and connect with the individual on a personal basis. Remember to smile.

5. Focus – If we are focused 100% on an interview, psychologically we can’t be nervous, tense or judgmental of ourselves. The best conversations occur when both parties are fully engaged and this happens when everyone is focused on only the interview and nothing else.

Leave everything unrelated outside of the room and if you find yourself distracted or getting nervous the simple remedy is to put your mind at ease listening only to what the interviewer is saying rather than what you are telling yourself.

6. Strong mentality – Remember to always approach the interview with fearlessness, optimism and confidence. Don’t be afraid of failure. Rather be honest and authentic; it’s the most anyone can ask of you.

7. Never get discouraged during tough interviews – The best interviewers are going to ask you tough questions. Never take it personally, rather consider it due diligence on the end of the interviewer and be thankful that you are speaking with a hiring manager who knows what they are doing.

When we think upbeat thoughts, the positive energy allows us to focus and come across more upbeat and engaging. If you find your answers slipping, quickly pick yourself up. Everyone gets discouraged; though, when we begin to take difficult interviewing questions as due diligence as opposed to a personal knock, we are more apt to be successful.

8. Be determined to get the job – Luck favors those who are determined to reach a specific goal. As a job seeker, you should have a focus and drive to ace every interview that you go on making sure to leave multiple positive impressions on employees throughout the company.

You should expect to win. When we are focused, driven and expecting success, it comes.

9. Ask the right questions in the right manner – When you ask questions, don’t come across as skeptical or prying, rather ask the questions because you want the information. People don’t like hidden agendas and interviewers are no different. Prior to interviewing, formulate some interviewing questions that you are comfortable with and deliver those inquiries in a non-assuming, intelligent manner.

10. Focus on the positive aspects of the position – Regardless of pay, title or industry, there are both positive and negative aspects to any position. It’s your choice what you focus your attention on and it’s a lot more productive to hone in on the things you enjoy about the job rather than letting the downsides cloud your judgement and outlook.

Take the time to write the benefits of working at the company on a sheet of paper. Everyone likes a sincere compliment and it never hurts to convey those points of interest to the hiring manager.

In the End

You should look at the interviewing process as enjoyable rather than considering it a chore. Think positively, stay focused, follow your intuition and you’re bound to get the position that you want.

Author:

Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement, an executive search firm specializing in sales and marketing recruitment for companies of all sizes from around the world. Among others, Ken’s recruitment and job search articles have appeared in the WSJ, AOL, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune and Forbes.